Chelsea's Di Matteo expects Terry-Ferdinand handshake to go ahead
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SHOWS: LONDON, UK (SEPTEMBER 14, 2012) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER ROBERTO DI MATTEO SAYING OF SATURDAY'S MATCH AGAINST QPR: "I think from our point of view, we are going to respect, you know, the rules and the protocol that is in place from the Premier League and you know, set a positive standard to the millions of people that are going to watch us all over the world and make people focus more on the football side rather than other issues" FILE (LONDON, UK - JULY 9, 2012) (ITN - NO ACCESS UK, AUSBC, TVNZ, CO.UK WEBSITES) 2. QPR'S ANTON FERDINAND LEAVING COURT BUILDING FROM SIDE DOOR AND GETTING INTO TAXI AFTER START OF TRIAL FILE (LONDON, UK - JULY 9, 2012) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 3. TERRY WALKING AWAY FROM FRONT OF COURT BUILDING PAST JOURNALISTS AND CAMERAMEN AFTER START HIS TRIAL LONDON, UK (SEPTEMBER 14, 2012) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER ROBERTO DI MATTEO SAYING: "You know, I mean, I know 'Sparky', Mark Hughes, very well and we touch every now and then and and you know, we speak and hopefully everybody will focus on football tomorrow and move on and that's the most important aspect, you know. As I said, the Premier League is being watched all over the world now and we have to set a good, positive standard for everybody who is watching us and the handshake is just a part of it and you know it's, you know, it's part of the Respect campaign as well and hopefully the game will be played in good spirit" 5. CHELSEA SIGN 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER ROBERTO DI MATTEO SAYING: "Well every time we go to Loftus Road it's always a feisty day, a big derby for us and you know it's, it's a small ground with very passionate supporters from both sides and the rivalry is well known, so it's going to be a heated atmosphere" 7. JOURNALISTS AND POSTERS 8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER ROBERTO DI MATTEO SAYING: "You know we, we would like both sets of supporters, but especially our supporters, to support their team and and and hopefully there will be no incidents. You know, football is here to unite people, rather than divide people and it's always been the case and that's what we set out our supporters to do" STORY: Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo said on Friday (September 14) that he expected players' handshakes to go ahead when the Blues travel to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, including John Terry and Anton Ferdinand, who are embroiled in an alleged racism controversy. Chelsea captain Terry and Ashley Cole have both recovered from injury and Saturday's match will be the first meeting between the sides since the skipper was cleared of racially abusing QPR's Ferdinand in July at a trial in which Cole was a witness for the defence. Pre-match handshakes were abandoned for the past two meetings between the clubs and although cleared in court, Terry still faces a Football Association charge, which is expected to be heard on September 24. "I think from our point of view, we are going to respect, you know, the rules and the protocol that is in place from the Premier League and you know, set a positive standard to the millions of people that are going to watch us all over the world and make people focus more on the football side rather than other issues," di Matteo told his news conference in London on the eve of the match at Loftus Road against Mark Hughes' side. "You know, I mean, I know 'Sparky', Mark Hughes, very well and we touch every now and then and and you know, we speak and hopefully everybody will focus on football tomorrow and move on and that's the most important aspect, you know. As I said, the Premier League is being watched all over the world now and we have to set a good, positive standard for everybody who is watching us and the handshake is just a part of it and you know it's, you know, it's part of the Respect campaign as well and hopefully the game will be played in good spirit." League leaders Chelsea have the maximum nine points from three games, while QPR are second-from-bottom above Southampton, with just one point and di Matteo acknowledged that their meetings are alwaysheated. "Well every time we go to Loftus Road it's always a feisty day, a big derby for us and you know it's, it's a small ground with very passionate supporters from both sides and the rivalry is well known, so it's going to be a heated atmosphere." Di Matteo also sent out a plea to supporters. "You know we, we would like both sets of supporters, but especially our supporters, to support their team and and and hopefully there will be no incidents. You know, football is here to unite people, rather than divide people and it's always been the case and that's what we set out our supporters to do."
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